When the Church Becomes the Care Team: Dr. Fayron Epps on Dementia, Black Families, and the Future of Caregiving Research

In this episode of CAREPOD, Kiplee Bell, MD, MS, PA-C sits down with Dr. Fayron Epps, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN — Professor and inaugural Karen and Ronald Hermann Distinguished Chair in Caregiver Research at UT Health San Antonio — for a rigorous, necessary conversation about who is actually holding dementia care together in America. Dr. Epps has spent two decades building evidence-based programs at the intersection of faith, race, and caregiving. She is the founder of the Alter Program, the only nurse-led dementia-friendly initiative designed specifically for African American congregations, and a leading voice on why family caregivers must be treated as clinical subjects in their own right. Together, Dr. Bell and Dr. Epps examine the structural gaps in dementia care for Black families, the burden carried silently inside faith communities, what the science actually says about spiritual engagement and quality of life, and why an endowed chair in caregiver research — not just dementia research — is one of the most important academic appointments in nursing today. This is not a wellness conversation. This is a care leadership conversation. Topics covered in this episode include dementia caregiving for Black families, African American Alzheimer's caregiver support, faith-based dementia care programs, caregiver research in nursing, the GUIDE Model for dementia care navigation, caregiver burnout among healthcare professionals, health disparities in dementia care, nurse-led dementia programs, the family caregiver as patient, spiritual care and dementia quality of life, the Alter Program for African American congregations, and caregiver research at UT Health San Antonio. Episode themes: dementia care navigation | caregiving equity | faith community health | Black eldercare | caregiver wellbeing | nursing research | GUIDE Model | care leadership | The Double Shift™